Published 12:00 am, Thursday, December 8, 2011

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The Middletown Press 11.30.11 Judge Susan B. Handy during the trial of Stephen Morgan, the man charged with the murder of Wesleyan University student Johanna Justin-Jinich Wednesday afternoon at Middlesex Superior Court in Middletown. less

The Middletown Press 11.30.11 Judge Susan B. Handy during the trial of Stephen Morgan, the man charged with the murder of Wesleyan University student Johanna Justin-Jinich Wednesday afternoon at Middlesex ... more

MIDDLETOWN -- In a video played in court Thursday, accused killer Stephen Morgan said he was certain Wesleyan University student Johanna Justin-Jinich was tracking him online and directing anonymous postings to him.

He is also seen in the video saying that Justin Jinich was playing "mind games" with him.

Morgan, 32, is accused of shooting Justin Jinich to death in an off-campus bookstore in May 2009.

Elsewhere during the video, played during day five of his trial as the defense presented its case, Morgan says he became convinced his computer had been hacked and that an unidentified "they" were watching him and his family.

The video followed testimony from two mental-health professionals who testified on behalf of the defense. One of the witnesses, Madelon Baranoski, a clinical psychologist, testified that Morgan showed all the classic markers for paranoid schizophrenia.

Baranoski said that during one of the tests, Morgan described smiles as "infectious, contagious, evil diseases." One of Morgan's most prevalent beliefs include the idea that the prison guards are watching him and reading his thoughts, Baranoski testified. Morgan has also said inmates were strategically placed to monitor him, and a constant stream of video of his inner thoughts was being shown to his family, she testified.

However, under cross examination by prosecutor Timothy J. Liston, Baranoski admitted that it was possible for someone with paranoid schizophrenia to make decisions that are separate from the illness. But Baranoski also said no inferences can be drawn from a paranoid schizophrenic's actions. Why they do certain things cannot be looked at through a logical lens, Baranoski said.

Baranoski finished her testimony by saying that Morgan recounted in great detail a preoccupation with a woman he met at NYU. Morgan described the woman as crazy, hostile and threatening. Baranoski said that someone with paranoid schizophrenia may sometimes "project" what they themselves are feeling onto another person and interpret it as that person acting that way toward him.

With having delusions, Morgan was unable to separate the ideas or shift the focus from one thing to another, Baranoski said.

Liston asked if Morgan wearing a disguise during the shooting meant he was trying to conceal himself, and Baranoski said that conclusion cannot be made without talking to the person to see what they thought their motives were at that moment.

Psychiatrist Howard Zonana testified that Morgan had submitted himself for evaluation to a Colorado mental health clinic. He underwent evaluation there, and those doctors determined that he was ill, will a severe mental disorder. The Colorado clinic advised that he start a medication and seek further treatment, which Morgan did not do. He instead moved back to the Boston area.

The trial was adjourned for the week late Thursday afternoon and is expected to resume next week.